AFME-AUT-GDE-001 Understanding Automation in Food Manufacturing
A plain-English guide to planning, buying and running automated equipment safely and legally in UK food factories. It explains how to choose the right job to automate, build an honest business case, meet food safety and hygiene requirements, and comply with UK health and safety law, including the machinery law changes that start on 20 January 2027.
What is included
AFME-AUT-GDE-001 Understanding Automation in Food Manufacturing (PDF, 12 pages): - What automation includes and where it helps - Choosing the right job to automate and building an honest business case - Food safety, hygienic design and HACCP review - UK law in plain English: PUWER, machinery supply law, CDM, EAWR, PSSR, DSEAR and more - Changes from 20 January 2027 (EU Machinery Regulation, GB and Northern Ireland) - Cyber security for factory control systems - Seven project stages, URS, FAT, SAT and handover - Real-life examples, worked case packer example and payback calculation - Readiness scorecard, project manager's checklist and jargon buster
Who this resource is for
Anyone involved in an automation project: engineers, engineering managers, project leads, operations managers, technical (food safety) teams and health and safety advisers. No specialist knowledge needed.
How to use this resource
1. Use the readiness scorecard before starting any automation project. 2. Work through the seven project stages and sign off each one before moving on. 3. Check the UK law table with your H&S adviser and agree who owns the Declaration of Conformity for the whole line. 4. Use the project manager's checklist and daily contractor meeting points during installation. 5. Review the benefits at 30, 60 and 90 days against your baseline.
